SkyTrain Evergreen Line construction progressing quickly (PHOTOS)
Construction on the $1.4-billion SkyTrain Evergreen Line is speeding along for a summer 2016 completion and opening.
Image: Evergreen Line
Unlike the disruptive process for building the SkyTrain Canada Line, construction for the 11-km long, 6 station SkyTrain Evergreen Line has been smooth sailing with few complaints and relatively limited impacts on road traffic. Much of this can be attributed to the line’s route running alongside existing freight rail tracks, a 2-km long bored tunnel, and lessons learnt from the Canada Line.
Nevertheless, most Metro Vancouverites might be surprised to see how much Evergreen Line construction has progressed since shovels first went into the ground last year. Many columns have been poured and elevated track guideways in certain areas have been erected.
Next month, construction will reach a major milestone when the massive 9.84-metre diameter, 1,100 tonne tunnel boring machine begins digging a single tunnel that will fit two side-by-side tracks. Crews are now in the final stages of machine assembly.
Running 24 hours a day, and assuming there will be no issues that cause delays, it will take approximately a year for the tunnel boring machine to complete the underground tube which will reach a depth of 60-metres at its lowest point.
Seattle is currently in the process of building a new road tunnel to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct. However, tunnel boring came to a halt last week when either a large glacial boulder or concrete chunk got stuck within the spokes of the 17.5-metre diameter machine. The machine now sits still 18-feet underground and after only completing one-tenth of the tunnel. It is not known when digging will resume.
Metro Vancouver also experienced costly and extremely lengthy delays with the recent Seymour-Capilano Water Filtration project. Machine-halting complications arose while boring the project’s twin side-by-side 7.1-km long tunnels through hard granite rock under Grouse Mountain at depths reaching 640-metres underground.
When the Evergreen Line opens, it will allow commuters to travel from Lougheed Station to the terminus at Lafarge Lake-Douglas Station near Coquitlam Centre in just 15 minutes. Trains will arrive every 3-minutes during most service hours.
With thanks to Grant Mattice and MaDog222 for Evergreen Line construction photography. These construction photos were taken over the last few weeks.
Installation and assembly of the tunnel boring machine at the Port Moody launch pit.
Image: Grant Mattice
Image: Grant Mattice
Image: Grant Mattice
Positioning and setting of the elevated track sections in Burquitlam with gantry.
Image: Grant Mattice
Image: Grant Mattice
Image: Grant Mattice
Image: Grant Mattice
Image: Grant Mattice
Image: Grant Mattice
Image: Grant Mattice
Image: Grant Mattice
Image: MaDog222
Image: MaDog222
Concrete pouring for columns to support the elevated track.
Image: Grant Mattice
Image: Grant Mattice
Image: Grant Mattice
Image: Grant Mattice
Image: MaDog222
Image: MaDog222
New third platform at Lougheed Station; Evergreen Line starts from the Millennium Line.
Image: MaDog222
Image: Grant Mattice
Image: MaDog222
Image: MaDog222
Big concrete sections built for Burquitlam Station.
Image: Grant Mattice
Short elevated overpass tracks along the ground-level route through Port Moody.
Image: Grant Mattice
Ground-level track construction in Port Moody.
Image: MaDog222
Image: MaDog222
Image: MaDog222
Image: MaDog222
Construction of the ground-level Inlet Station in Port Moody.
Image: Evergreen Line webcam snapshot